I shrug as I pour Macallan into an iced glass and toss in a single ice cube. A few swirls and I sip deep without giving it the respect it deserves. I swallow the rest, thankful for the heat warming me from the inside out. As much as I don’t want to, I put the lid back on. I don’t like getting drunk, especially not on scotch. When I look up Natalie is studying me. “I’ll take the job.”

“What happened?”

Shaking my head, I can’t meet her eyes. The last thing I need right now is her laughing at me, again. “Nothing, he offered me the job. I start on Monday. I’ll take it.”

“Alexa—”

She couldn’t let shit go. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why not?”

“Leave it the hell alone, Natalie. You wanted me to take the job to save your ass. I’m taking it.” Her eyes are huge, I fight to take a deep breath. I’ve never raised my voice to her in the two years we’ve been friends since I bought my condo across the hall from her. Hell, I don’t usually raise my voice at all. It’s rare for me to feel so out of control of my thoughts and emotions. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. I’d like to go to bed now.”

“Okay, yeah. I’m sorry too. If you need to talk, I’m here.”

I nod, knowing I won’t. Felix is headbutting me, demanding attention. I don’t respond. I check to make sure he has all the food and water he needs then take a shower.

I’m in the shower for so long my fingers are getting wrinkled only it feels too good to get out. Was I really going to do this? I hate lying, my father raised me to never lie unless the truth hurt someone, lies were never right. Was I really going to lie to satisfy a stupid job requirement? A job I deserved without lying so I could fulfill my dream of being a full-time writer. Four years, five years tops I could live a lie and walk away with enough money to make my dream a reality. It felt worth it. Did I really have a choice?